These are unprecedented times. Our community are under severe pressure, still suffering the r avages of Covid with cases in the Western Isles escalating.
And things are not going to improve for a lot of people.
Financial anxiety will be caused by energy costs about to rise dramatically. We can see food prices on the rise as we do our weekly shopping, our social landlord has just increased the rents in our communities against a backdrop of a private housing rental market where rents are out of reach for a lot of people, who can't afford to buy their own home.
There is no doubt that families will struggle.
I want to draw members attention to those who are termed to be "in-work" poverty.
How horrendous is that which leaves people who are working struggling, costs of living rising and one of the highest levels of fuel poverty in Scotland.
I want to emphasise the situation for this who just miss out on benefits because they are in work - our lowest paid - the impact on them will be harsh and unrelenting.
The Comhairle, itself, predicts a pessimistic future, as it normally does, and it is always better to err on the side of caution and to be prudent.
But our Comhairle has money, underspends accruing every year, the Scottish Government sending more money such as £800,000 to help those in lower levels.
But I remind you again of our lowest paid - they may well have no contingencies, banks will not lend to them, and they all to often fall prey to loans to cover essential costs.
What I, and the SNP Group, wish to do and ask for your support is to give our communities a small breathing space.
What it will be like, if costs increase, rents increase, food prices increase, taxes increase and you are struggling to make ends meet - battered and bruised by the system - picture that.
Let us freeze the council tax and show our communities that we understand , care about them when many of them are facing these harsh realities.
I move the amendment.
